Preserving compound



UNITED STATES PATENT ()EEIcE.

JAMES M. GILLIHAN AND THOMAS J. GILLIHAN, OF OLATHE, KANSAS.

PRESERVING COMPOUND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,861, dated October 6, 1891.

Application filed April 22,1891. Serial No. 390,036. (No specimens.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES M. GILLIHAN and THOMAS J. GILLIHAN, citizens of the United States, and residents of Olathe, in the county of Johnson and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Preserving Compounds; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to compounds for the preservation of meats, fruits, vegetables, and other like perishable articles; and it consists in the ingredients prepared and applied in or about the proportions and in the manner hereinafter set forth.

The object of the invention is to preserve meats, fruits, vegetables, and other like perishable articles in their normal state without having recourse to heat or to the sealing of the packages or cans wherein they may be contained. To this end an air-tight receptacle of any suitable dimensions provided with a door is constructed. The said receptacle is constructed so as to accommodate removable and movable open. racks or shelves upon which the articles to be preserved are distributed in such a manner as to subject them to the fumes arising from the combustion of the compound, as will be hereinafter explained.

The formula of the compound is as follows: Powdered charcoal, one-sixth of an ounce; nitrate of potash, chemically pure, three ounces; sassafras-bark, one-sixth of an ounce; powdered licorice-root, three ounces; powdered sulphur, one and one-half pounds; salicine, one-sixth of an ounce.

The above-mentioned compounds are mixed together thoroughly by trituration in a mortar or otherwise, when the preparation is ready for use.

After the articles to be preserved have been properly prepared and distributed in the airtight receptacle, which latter is provided with an open space or chamber below the shelves or racks, a sufficient amount of the compound is placed in a suitable vessel and the latter introduced beneath the shelves containing the articles in question. In practice I find about one ounce of the compound to every ten pounds of the fruit, vegetables, or other matter to be preserved to be sufficient. At this stage of the process the compound in the vessel is fired, which, by reason of its combustible qualities, is easily effected and the door of the receptacle quickly closed.

T 0 those familiar with the art naturally the different preliminary means resorted to for preparing the various articles will suggest themselves before subjecting said articles to the fumes of the compound described.

\Vhat I claim as new is The preserving compound consisting of powdered charcoal, nitrate of potash, sassafras-bark powdered licorice-root, powdered sulphur, and salicine, prepared substantially in the manner and in about the proportions specified.

In testimony whereof we af'lix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES M. GILLIHAN. THOMAS J. GILLIHAN.

Witnesses:

J. P. MILBURN, E.- L. CARESS. 

